EFFECT OF HCV DIRECT ANTIVIRAL AGENTS ON PORTAL CIRCULATION HEMODYNAMICS IN CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Infectious diseases, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, AlAzhar Faculty of Medicine, AlAzhar University, Cairo, Egypt

2 Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Department, National Liver Institute (NLI), Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Menoufia, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection using direct-acting antiviral Agents (DAAs) nowadays is almost always hopeful. Sustained virological response (SVR) has been documented in more than 90% of cases. This prevents more fibrosis and precludes the progression of portal hypertension (PH).
Objective: detect the effect of HCV Direct Antiviral Agents on portal circulation hemodynamics.
Patients and methods: This prospective descriptive study that was conducted on 70 HCV infected patients with liver stiffness measurement (LVM) ≥ 14.0 Kpa and underwent treatment with DAAs therapeutic regimens. They were subjected to pre-treatment, end of treatment (EOT) and 1 year after EOT laboratory, transient elastography (TE) and Doppler assessment at Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious diseases Department, Al-Hussien University Hospital, Cairo and National Liver Institute, Menoufia, Egypt in the period from May 2018 to December 2019.
Results: Liver function tests including serum bilirubin, albumin, international ratio (INR), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were improved with variable significant values at EOT and 1 year after treatment, while hemoglobin and platelet count decreased. LVM values decreased significantly at the end of treatment (P<0.001). Doppler parameters including portal vein diameter, portal vein velocity (PVV), congestion index of portal vein (CI) and liver vascular index (P value<0.001) were improved significantly 1year after EOT. Also, resistive index of hepatic artery (HARI) (P value = 0.001) significantly improved at the same point of time.
Conclusion: Doppler portal hypertensive parameters, as a marker of portal hypertension, improved in parallel with the improvement in LVM, ALT and AST values after viral eradication.

Keywords

Main Subjects


EFFECT OF HCV DIRECT ANTIVIRAL AGENTS ON PORTAL CIRCULATION HEMODYNAMICS IN CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS

By

Mostafa Abd El-Hamid Selima, Nader Farid Mostafa, Galal Abd El-Hameed Abou-Farrag, and Mohamed Abbas Deif*

Infectious diseases, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, AlAzhar Faculty of Medicine, AlAzhar University, Cairo, Egypt

*Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Department, National Liver Institute (NLI), Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Menoufia, Egypt

Corresponding author: Mostafa Abd El-Hamid Selima

Mobil: 01008469283, E-mail: mostselima@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Background: Eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection using direct-acting antiviral Agents (DAAs) nowadays is almost always hopeful. Sustained virological response (SVR) has been documented in more than 90% of cases. This prevents more fibrosis and precludes the progression of portal hypertension (PH).

Objective: detect the effect of HCV Direct Antiviral Agents on portal circulation hemodynamics.

Patients and methods: This prospective descriptive study that was conducted on 70 HCV infected patients with liver stiffness measurement (LVM) ≥ 14.0 Kpa and underwent treatment with DAAs therapeutic regimens. They were subjected to pre-treatment, end of treatment (EOT) and 1 year after EOT laboratory, transient elastography (TE) and Doppler assessment at Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious diseases Department, Al-Hussien University Hospital, Cairo and National Liver Institute, Menoufia, Egypt in the period from May 2018 to December 2019.

Results: Liver function tests including serum bilirubin, albumin, international ratio (INR), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were improved with variable significant values at EOT and 1 year after treatment, while hemoglobin and platelet count decreased. LVM values decreased significantly at the end of treatment (P<0.001). Doppler parameters including portal vein diameter, portal vein velocity (PVV), congestion index of portal vein (CI) and liver vascular index (P value<0.001) were improved significantly 1year after EOT. Also, resistive index of hepatic artery (HARI) (P value = 0.001) significantly improved at the same point of time.

Conclusion: Doppler portal hypertensive parameters, as a marker of portal hypertension, improved in parallel with the improvement in LVM, ALT and AST values after viral eradication.

Key words: Portal Hemodynamics, HCV eradication, Liver Stiffness, Direct acting antiviral, Portal vein Doppler parameters.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

     Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects about 80 million people worldwide (Gower et al., 2014). Ongoing hepatic inflammation may lead to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and ultimately portal hypertension which may be complicated by ascites, variceal bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy. Moreover, patients are at considerable risk for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (Tsochatzis et al., 2014).

     The interferon (IFN) based therapies were limited in patients with advanced liver disease due to adverse events in addition to its modest efficacy (Reiberger et al., 2011 and Hézode et al., 2014). In contrast, novel IFN free regimens are highly effective and generally well tolerated (Mandorfer et al., 2015). Touting rates of sustained virologic response (SVR), which dense the cure of chronic hepatitis C (CHC), exceeding 95% (Charlton et al., 2015 and Manns et al., 2016) and the focus of attention has now shifted to the regression of HCV-induced liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and portal hypertension after treatment (Pinzani et al., 2015).

     In addition, hemodynamic changes in advanced cirrhosis were found to associate with the development of hepatorenal syndrome (Møller and Henriksen,2010)  Thus, it is postulated that hemodynamic parameters may provide unique information on the prognosis of cirrhotic patients (Hsieh et al., 2018). Many studies showed significant correlation between severity of liver dysfunction or Child-Pugh score (Achim et al., 2016 and Ahmed & Medhat, 2019) and portal circulation hemodynamics, others showed correlation between liver function tests and portal circulation hemodynamics (Akhter et al., 2012, Mahmoud et al., 2014, Mahmoud et al., 2017 and Elsayed et al., 2019).

     Multiple parameters, which could be measured with Doppler ultrasound, are reported to be altered with the progression of hepatic fibrosis and are considered as markers of PH such as portal vein velocity (PVV), portal vein flow rate (PVF) and Congestion Index (CI) (Mahmoud et al., 2014).

     The aim of the study was to assess the effect of HCV eradication with DAAs on portal circulation Doppler parameters and degree of liver fibrosis one year after EOT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

     This Prospective descriptive study was carried out on 70 HCV infected patients , aged 55.71±8.97 years old, with definite liver fibrosis (F4: ≥12.5 Kpa)  achieved SVR12 on follow up with laboratory, transient elastography (TE) and ultrasonography examination before and after HCV treatment with DAAs containing Interferon (INF) free therapeutic regimens at Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious diseases Department, Al-Hussien University Hospital, Cairo and National Liver Institute, Menoufia, Egypt in the period from May 2018 to December 2019.

     Patients with HCV infection was detected depending on both HCV Ab and HCV RNA PCR ≥ 15 IU/L. The inclusion criteria included the range of patients’ age from 18 up to 65 years old and had chronic infection with HCV, with detectable HCV RNA. Those patients had Child-Pugh score A. For the baseline assessment, all patients were subjected to Complete history taking, and full Clinical Examination. Blood samples were collected from patients and submitted to complete blood count (CBC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum albumin (ALB), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, prothrombin time and INR, serum creatinine, pregnancy test (for females at fertility period), Alpha Feto Protein (AFP), Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) level and hemoglobin A1c, HBsAg (Hepatitis B surface antigen). Baseline measurement of liver stiffness is performed in addition to liver ultrasonogrophy including Doppler of portal vein and hepatic artery to assess portal vein (PV) diameter, cross-sectional area, mean PV velocity (PVV), PV flow volume (PVF), congestion index of portal vein (CI), hepatic artery pulsitility index (HAPI), hepatic artery resistive index (HARI) and liver vascular index (LVI). It was done with Color duplex ultrasound machine (logiQ E10) with curved probe with multi-frequency convex transducer. The examination was carried out on patients under fasting and in a supine position for 15 minutes. The Doppler sample was positioned in the middle of the lumen. The following variables were calculated: (1) Portal vein diameter (mm): The portal vein was measured at the hepatic hilum, proximal to the bifurcation. (2) Cross-sectional area of the portal vein (cm2): Cross sectional area = (π × diameter^2)/4. (3) PVV (cm/sec): Hemodynamic measurements were done during a brief apnea after a small breath. The insonation angle between the vessel and Doppler beam was <600 for accuracy (Achim et al., 2016). (4) PVF (mL/sec) = [(π × diameter^2)/4] x mean velocity x 60 (Kayacetin et al., 2004). (5) HAPI = (Peak systolic velocity – end diastolic velocity)/ (Mean velocity). (6) HARI = (Peak systolic velocity – end diastolic velocity)/ (Peak systolic velocity) (Ahmed and Medhat 2019). (7) CI (cm x sec) = (cross-sectional area of the portal vein)/ (mean portal vein velocity) (Elsayed et al., 2019). (8) LVI = (Portal vein velocity)/HAPI (Achim et al., 2016).

     FibroScan, using echosens FibroScan compact 530 Machine, was performed on the right lobe of the liver by same clinician. A total of 10 measurements, expressed in Kpa, were obtained at each assessment and the median was determined. LSM score range from 2.50 to 75 Kpa (Soresi et al., 2014). LSM values were used to estimate the METAVIR fibrosis stage as follows: F0-F1: 2.5 to 6.9 Kpa/ F2: 7.0 to 9.4 Kpa / F3: 9.5 to 12.4 Kpa/ F4: ≥12.5 Kpa. Cirrhosis was defined as an LS score of 12.5 Kpa or more (Castéra et al., 2005).

     The treatment protocols were applied for all patients according to National Egyptian protocol: Sofosbuvir/ Dacltasvir, Sofosbuvir/ Simprevir, Sofosbuvir/ Dacltasvir/ Ribavirin and Sofosbuvir/ Simprevir/ Ribavirin for 5 (7.1%), 8 (11.4%), 53 (75.8%), 9 (12.9%) and 4 (5.7%) patients respectively. 59 patients (84.3%) were treated for 12 weeks and 11 patients (15.7%) for 24 weeks.

     All patients were submitted to the following investigations immediately at the end point of treatment (EOT) with routine clinical examination, Laboratory investigation: CBC, ALT, AST, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, serum albumin, INR and Serum creatinine, serum real time HCV-RNA PCR. The latter was the only at week 12 after EOT for assessment of SVR12.

All patients were submitted to the following investigations 1year after EOT with Routine clinical examination, laboratory investigation: CBC, ALT, AST, total bilirubin, serum albumin, INR and serum creatinine, serum real time HCV-RNA PCR, TE, Doppler assessment of values of portal vein and hepatic artery parameters. We carried out different correlations between the hemodynamic variables obtained from the Doppler examination, the liver stiffness and laboratory findings.

     The patients were excluded from participating in the study if they had HIV or hepatitis B co-infection, history of major organ transplantation, or recent drug or alcohol abuse, refractory ascites (as defined by requiring paracentesis more than twice within the prior month), prior placement of a portosystemic shunt, current or historical portal vein thrombosis, active variceal bleeding within the prior 6 months; expected survival of  less than 1 year, oesophygeal varices with risky sign, on non-selective β-blockers, history of clinically significant medical condition associated with other chronic liver disease, severe hepatic impairment, history of hepatorenal or hepatopulmonary syndrome, active spontaneous bacterial peritonitis or major laboratory disturbance like alpha-fetoprotein >100(unless the patient was negative for hepatic masses via imaging within the prior 3 months), haemoglobin <8 g/dL, with neutrophils <1000 cells/mm3, platelets ≤ 75 000/mm3, creatinine ≥1.5×ULN or total bilirubin >5 mg/dL.

Ethical Aspects:

I.  Approving protocol:  Current protocol will be approved by Committee of Tropical Medicine Department and Committee of Faculty of Medicine at Al-Azhar university, and then by the ethical committee at Al-Azhar university.

II. Patient Consent: All patients that were included in current study signed approved consents.

Statistical analysis:

     Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software, version 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Continuous variables are expressed as mean and standard deviation while qualitative variables were expressed as frequencies. Paired Student’s t test is used for comparisons between pre-and post-treatment for normally distributed data and Wilcoxon matched pairs signed-rank test when not normally distributed. Simple linear regression was carried out to investigate the relationship between the change in liver stiffness and the change in laboratory values from Pre-treatment to after treatment. Pearson correlation (r) test is used to measure the association between liver stiffness measurement and portal hemodynamics parameters. A 2-tailed 0.05 significance level has been used in all statistical tests.


 

 

 

 

 

RESULTS

 

 

     The current study included 70 HCV cirrhotic patients, 56 of them were males (80%) and 14 were females (20%) aging 21-65 years old with a mean age of 55.71±8.97 years. Pre-treatment characteristics showed LSM of all patients were F4 included with Fibro Scan score mean 26.32±10.23 Kpa. Baseline fasting blood glucose (FBG) mean value was 103.61±15.37 mg/dl and alfa feto protein (AFP) mean value was 16.87±23.82 ng/ml. Ultrasound examination as pre-treatment  assessment showed the percent of patients having cirrhotic, coarse  and  non-cirrhotic liver were 74.3%, 22.8% and 2.9% respectively, spleen : 64.3% had splenomegaly while  35.7% of the patients had normal spleen.  None of the patients had ascites or hepatic focal lesions. Liver stiffness of all patients was F4 included with fibro scan score mean 26.32±10.23 kilo Pascal's (Kpa). Sixty one patients (87.1%) hadn’t received any previous treatment while only 9 patients (12.9%) experienced previous treatment. The treatment protocols applied were: Sofosbuvir+ Daclatasvir or Simprevir± Ribavirin. Fifty nine patients (84.3%) were treated for 12 weeks and 11 patients (15.7%) for 24 weeks (Table 1).


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table (1):   Baseline characteristics of the patients

Characteristics

Total patients (no= 70)

Age (years)

Mean±SD

Median

Range

 

55.71±8.97

58.50

21-65

Gender

Males

Females

 

56 (80.0%)

14 (20.0%)

Treatment status

Naïve

 

61 (87.1%)

Experienced

INF/RBV

9 (12.9%)

5 (7.1%)

SOF/RBV

2 (2.9%)

SOF/INF/RBV

2 (2.9%)

Treatment protocol

SOF/DAC

SOF/SIM

SOF/DAC/RBV

SOF/DCV/RBV

SOF/SIM/RBV

 

5 (7.1%)

8 (11.4%)

44 (62.9%)

9 (12.9%)

4 (5.7%)

Duration of treatment

12 weeks

24 weeks

 

59 (84.3%)

11 (15.7%)

Liver

Non cirrhotic

Cirrhotic

Coarse

 

2 (2.9%)

52 (74.3%)

16 (22.8%)

Spleen

Normal

Splenomegaly

 

25 (35.7%)

45 (64.3%)

Ascitis

No

 

70 (100%)

HCC

No

 

70 (100%)

Laboratory tests

 

FBS

Mean±SD

Median

Range

 

103.61±15.37

105.00

65.0-125.0

AFP

Mean±SD

 

16.87±23.82

FibroScan score

Mean±SD

Median

Range

 

26.32±10.23

25.00

14.0-48.0

FibroScan stage

F4

 

70 (100%)

 

 

 

 

     Immediately after EOT, both Total and Direct Bilirubin significantly increased. AST and ALT significantly improved. Both Hemoglobin and Platelets showed significant decreased (P-value <0.001 for all parameters). Serum Albumin, WBCs, INR and Serum Creatinine showed non-significant change (Table 2).

 

 

Table (2):   Clinical laboratory values pre-treatment and immediately at the end of treatment

Variables

Parameters

Pre-treatment

immediately at the end of treatment

Change

P -value

Total bilirubin(mg/dl)

1.02±0.43

1.49±0.68

-3.92

<0.001

Direct bilirubin

(mg/dl)

0.40±0.23

0.77±0.56

0.37

<0.001

Albumin (g/dl)

4.75±0.93

3.48±0.55

-1.26

0.07

Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) (U/L)

76.38±51.14

46.67±27.18

-29.71

<0.001

Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) (U/L)

77.27±56.81

47.52±24.93

-29.75

<0.001

INR

1.21±0.15

1.2±0.17

0.002

0.85

Creatinine (mg/dl)

0.87±0.17

0.88±0.29

-1.51

0.82

Hemoglobin (g/dl)

12.92±2.19

11.41±1.76

0.36

<0.001

WBCs (×1000)

6.05±2.05

6.41±2.25

0.009

0.13

Platelets (×1000)

136.6±52.65

129.25±51.05

-7.34

<0.001

*Wilcoxon signed ranks test

 

 

     One year after EOT, both total and direct bilirubin significantly increased (P-value 0.01, 0.001 respectively). AST, ALT and LSM significantly improved. Both Hemoglobin and Platelets showed significant decreased (P-value <0.001 for all parameters). Serum albumin, WBCs, INR and serum creatinine showed an insignificant change (Table 3).

 

 

Table (3):   Clinical laboratory values pre-treatment and one year after the end of treatment

Variables

Parameters

Pre-treatment

one year after the end of treatment

Change

P -value

Total bilirubin

(mg/dl)

1.02±0.43

1.47±1.38

0.45±1.46

0.01

Direct bilirubinn(mg/dl)

0.40±0.23

0.73±0.79

0.33±0.79

0.001

Albumin (g/dl)

4.75±5.93

3.54±0.59

-1.21±5.92

0.09

AST(U/L)

76.38±51.14

37.17±21.54

-39.21±37.02

<0.001

ALT(U/L)

77.27±56.81

30.30±19.41

-46.97±45.81

<0.001

INR

1.21±0.15

1.20±0.14

-0.006±0.16

0.74

Creatinine (mg/dl)

0.87±0.17

0.77±0.26

-0.10±0.29

0.006

Hemoglobin(g/dl)

12.92±2.19

11.54±1.66

-1.37±1.24

<0.001

WBCs (×1000)

6.05±2.05

6.62±1.83

0.57±2.6

0.07

Platelets (×1000)

136.6±52.65

125.44±49.48

-11.16±14.23

<0.001

Liver stiffness measurement(Kpa)

26.32±10.23

19.89±8.25

-6.44±6.11

<0.001

*Wilcoxon signed ranks test

 

     All patients were Fibroscan stage F4 (100%) at the pre-treatment examination and on examination 1 year after EOT LSM significantly improved to F2 (2.9%), F3 (17.1%), F4 (80.0%) (P-value 0.01) (Table 4).

 

 

Table (4):   Change in Liver Stiffness from Pre-treatment to after treatment

Variables

Parameters

Pre-treatment

After-treatment

P value

F2

No (%)

0 (0%)

2 (2.9%)

 

----------

Mean ±SD

---------

8.80±0.01

F3

No (%)

0 (0%)

12 (17.1%)

 

_____

Mean ±SD

---------

11.33±0.94

F4

No (%)

70 (100.0%)

56 (80.0%)

 

0.01

Mean ±SD

26.32±10.23

19.89±8.25

 

 

     One year after EOT doppler parameters included PV diameter, PVV, CI, LVI and HARI significantly improved (P-value <0.001 for all parameters except HARI 0.001). Both PVF and HAPI showed insignificant change (Table 5).

 

 

Table (5):   Comparison of Pre-treatment and one year after the end of treatment regarding portal vein hemodynamics

Variables

Parameters

Pre-treatment

one year after the end of treatment

Change

P -value

PV diameter(mm)

12.76±0.97

11.84±1.06

- 0.92

<0.001

PV velocity (cm / sec)

15.43±1.24

16.12±1.64

0.69

<0.001

PV flow rate (mL / sec)

1285.53±41.93

1289.34±41.47

3.81

0.47

Congestion index of portal vein (cm x sec) (CI)

0.09±0.01

0.08±0.01

- 0.007

<0.001

Pulsatility index of Hepatic artery (HAPI)

1.10±0.08

1.09±0.22

- 0.008

0.73

Resistive index of Hepatic artery (HARI)

0.66±0.05

0.63±0.07

- 0.03

0.001

Liver vascular index (LVI)

14.07±1.42

15.21±2.98

1.13

<0.001

 

 

DISCUSSION

     Our study included 70 cirrhotic patients. After 3 months and 1year of EOT, sustained viral response was achieved. Concerning total and direct bilirubin, both significantly increased at EOT and 1 year after EOT which is in contradiction to Mahmoud et al. (2017) and Elsayed et al. (2019).

     For serum albumin, at EOT decreased insignificantly, while one year after EOT it increased insignificantly which was in agreement with Chekuri et al. (2016), Mahmoud et al. (2017) and Elsayed et al. (2019) who reported a significant increase of serum albumin after treatment (p<0.03).

     As regard to AST and ALT, both significantly decreased at EOT and one year after EOT. This was in agreement with Chekuri et al. (2016), Mahmoud et al. (2017), Puente et al. (2017), Elsayed et al. (2019), Mansour et al. (2019) and Ezzelregal et al. (2020) who reported a significant decrease of AST and ALT levels after treatment.

     Concerning creatinine level, an insignificant change was reported at EOT and 1 year after EOT unlike Elsayed et al. (2019). For international ratio (INR), an insignificant change was reported at EOT and 1 year after EOT. Mahmoud et al. (2017) and Elsayed et al. (2019) reported a decrease in prothrombin time.

     For hemoglobin (Hb) level, it significantly decreased at EOT and 1 year after EOT. This was in agreement with Mahmoud et al. (2017), Puente et al. (2017), Elsayed et al. (2019), Mansour et al. (2019) and Ezzelregal et al. (2020), while Chekuri et al. (2016) stated that the difference was not significant.

     As regard to white blood count (WBCs), it insignificantly changed at EOT and 1 year after EOT. This was in agreement with Elsayed et al. (2019), but in contradiction to Mansour et al. (2019) who reported a decrease in WBCs count after treatment. This could be due to use of ribavirin. For platelets count, it significantly decreased at EOT and 1 year after EOT, which was in agreement with Puente et al. (2017) but in contradiction to Chekuri et al. (2016), Mahmoud et al. (2017), Elsayed et al. (2019), Mansour et al. (2019) and Ezzelregal et al. (2020) due to including of ribavirin in therapeutic regimens of most patients.

     The significant decrease of LS measurement was in agreement with Chekuri et al. (2016), Dolmazashvili et al. (2017), Grgurevic et al. (2017), Mahmoud et al. (2017), Puente et al. (2017), Mansour et al. (2019) and Ezzelregal et al. (2020).

     Congestion index was in agreement with Achim et al. (2016). For hepatic artery Doppler assessment: HAPI was in agreement with Achim et al. (2016). Ahmed and Medhat (2019) reported that the mean of HARI was relatively equal in Child A and Child B. Concerning liver vascular index (LVI), it was in agreement with Achim et al. (2016).

     For the comparison between pre-treatment and 1year after EOT Doppler assessment, pre-treatment portal vein (PV) diameter significantly decreased, velocity (PVV) was significantly improved which was in agreement with Mahmoud et al. (2017) who reported that the PVV significantly improved at EOT in addition to a significant improvement on week 24. In addition, Elsayed et al. (2019) stated that PVV improved.

     In a study by Akhter et al. (2012), the mean PVV after 2 weeks of therapy significantly increased as compare to pre-IFN. However, after 24 weeks of therapy, there was no significant difference in the portal blood flow velocity.

     As regard to the portal vein flow rate, it improved in agreement with Mahmoud et al. (2017) who reported that the flow rate was significantly increased at EOT and on week 24. Also, Elsayed et al. (2019) stated that flow rate significantly improved.

     For congestion index, it significantly changed in agreement with Mahmoud et al. (2017) who reported a significant increase in CI at EOT and on week 24. Furthermore, Elsayed et al. (2019) stated that CI, as well, showed significant improvement.

     Concerning the hepatic artery, it showed that HAPI decreased while resistive index (RI) significantly decreased which was in agreement with Elsayed et al. (2019) who stated that HARI significantly improved.

     For liver vascular index, it significantly changed. Mahmoud et al. (2014) found that LVI showed statistically significantly lower values in patients with OVs than those without OVs.

CONCLUSION

     Eradication of HCV infection with new DAAs was associated with significant improvement in portal circulation hemodynamics such as PVV, CI, HARI and LVI in correlation with significant decrease in LVM, ALT and AST.

Conflict of interest: All Authors declared that no conflict of interest and no financial support from any agency.

Acknowledgement: The authors are grateful for the patients without whom this study would not have been done.

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  14. Mahmoud HS, Mostafa EF and Mohammed MA (2014): Role of portal haemodynamic parameters in prediction of oesophageal varices in cirrhotic patients. Arab Journal of Gastroenterology. 15(3-4):130-4.
  15. Mahmoud H, Osman H, Abdelrazek G and Al-Senbesy M (2017): Evaluation of Portal Hypertension Doppler Parameters after Hepatitis C Virus Eradication in Patients with Definite Fibrosis. Int. J. Curr. Res. Med. Sci. 3(11):46-54.
  16. Mandorfer M, Kozbial K, Freissmuth C, Schwabl P, Stättermayer AF, Reiberger T, Beinhardt S, Schwarzer R, Trauner M, Ferlitsch A and Hofer H (2015): Interferon-free regimens for chronic hepatitis C overcome the effects of portal hypertension on virological responses. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics. 42(6):707-18.
  17. Manns M, Samuel D, Gane EJ, Mutimer D, McCaughan G, Buti M, Prieto M, Calleja JL, Peck-Radosavljevic M, Müllhaupt B and Agarwal K (2016): Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir plus ribavirin in patients with genotype 1 or 4 hepatitis C virus infection and advanced liver disease: a multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 2 trial. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 16(6):685-97.
  18. Mansour RH, Zaky S, El Kassas M, Mamdouh H and Esmat G (2019): Evaluating the effect of direct-acting agents on liver fibrosis, by real-time elastography, Fibroscan and FIB4 score in chronic HCV patients. The Scientific Journal of Al-Azhar Medical Faculty, Girls. 3(1):237.
  19. Møller S. and Henriksen JH. (2010): Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. Journal of hepatology. 53(1):179-90.
  20. Pinzani M (2015): Liver fibrosis in the post-HCV era. InSeminars in liver disease. Thieme Medical Publishers. 35)2(:157-165.
  21. Puente Á, Cabezas J, López Arias MJ, Fortea JI, Arias MT, Estébanez Á, Casafont F, Fábrega E and Crespo J (2017): Influence of sustained viral response on the regression of fibrosis and portal hypertension in cirrhotic HCV patients treated with antiviral triple therapy. Revista Española de Enfermedades Digestivas. 109(1):17-25.
  22. Reiberger T, Rutter K, Ferlitsch A, Payer BA, Hofer H, Beinhardt S, Kundi M, Ferenci P, Gangl A, Trauner M and Peck–Radosavljevic M (2011): Portal pressure predicts outcome and safety of antiviral therapy in cirrhotic patients with hepatitis C virus infection. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 9(7):602-8.
  23. Soresi M, Giannitrapani L, Cervello M, Licata A and Montalto G (2014): Non invasive tools for the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. World journal of gastroenterology: WJG. 20(48):18131.
  24. Tsochatzis EA, Bosch J and Burroughs AK (2014): Liver cirrhosis. The Lancet. 383(9930):1749-61.


تأثيرعلاج فيروس سي بالمضادات الفيروسية المباشرة علي الدورة البابية في مرضي التليف الکبدي

مصطفي عبدالحميد سليمة، نادر فريد مصطفي، جلال عبدالحميد أبوفراج، محمد عباس ضيف

قسم أمراض الکبد والجهاز الهضمى والأمراض المعدية، کلية الطب، جامعة الأزهر

قسم الأشعة التداخلية معهد الکبد القومي شبين الکوم المنوفية

E-mail: mostselima@gmail.com

خلفية البحث: صار القضاء على عدوى فيروس التهاب الکبد الوبائي (سي) بعد ظهور العوامل المباشرة المضادة للفيروسات في الوقت الحاضر أمر مبشرا. تم توثيق الاستجابة الفيروسية المستمرة  في أکثر من 90٪ من الحالات. وهذا يمنع المزيد من التليف ويمنع تطور ارتفاع ضغط الدم البابي.

الهدف من البحث: الکشف عن تأثير العوامل المباشرة المضادة للفيروسات (المستخدمة في علاج فيروس التهاب الکبد الوبائي (سي)) على ديناميکا الدورة الدموية في الوريد البابي.

المرضي وطرق البحث: دراسة وصفية استباقية أجريت على 70 مريض مصاب بفيروس التهاب الکبد (سي) دوو قياس تصلب الکبد ≥ 14.0 کيلو باسکال الذين خضعوا للعلاج معتمدين علي العوامل المباشرة المضادة للفيروسات. تم إخضاعهم للدراسة والتحليل السابقة لتعاطي العلاج، وبعد نهايته وبعد عام أيضا، وتقييم المرونة العابرة وتقييم دوبلر.وقد تمت الدراسة بقسم الجهاز الهضمي والکبد والأمراض المعدية کلية طب بنين جامعة الأزهربالقاهرة ومعهد الکبد بشبين الکوم جامعة المنوفية خلال الفترة من مايو2018 إلي ديسمبر 2019.

نتائج البحث: أظهرت نتائج الدراسة  أثناء فحص مابعد نهاية العلاج زيادة کل من مستوي الصفراء الکلي والمباشر بقيمة ذات دلالة إحصائية. بينما تحسنت الانزيمات الکبدية (الألانين ترانسأمسنيز و الأسبارتيت ترانسأمينيز) بقيمة ذات دلالة إحصائية. لکن أظهر کل من الهيموجلوبين والصفائح الدموية انخفاضًا ذا دلالة إحصائية (قيمة الاحتمالية <0.001 لجميع الدلالات). أظهرت نسبة الألبومين بالدم وکريات الدم البيضاء والمعدل الدولي للسيولة والکرياتينين بالدم تغيرًا طفيفًا.

         و بعد عام من نهاية العلاج زاد مستوي الصفراء الکلي والمباشر بشکل ذا دلالة إحصائية (قيمة الاحتمالية ساوت 0.01، 0.001 على التوالي). تحسنت الانزيمات الکبدية (الألانين ترانسأمسنيز و الأسبارتيت ترانسأمينيز) و قيمة تصلب الکبد بشکل ذا دلالة إحصائية. وأظهر کل من الهيموجلوبين والصفائح الدموية انخفاضًا ذا دلالة إحصائية (قيمة الاحتمالية <0.001 لجميع الدلالات). أظهرت نسبة الألبومين بالدم وکريات الدم البيضاء والمعدل الدولي للسيولة والکرياتينين بالدم تغيرًا طفيفًا.

الإستنتاج: تم تحسين معاملات ارتفاع ضغط الدم في بوابة دوبلر، کعلامة لارتفاع ضغط الدم البابي، بالتوازي مع التحسن في قيم تصلب الکبد و الانزيمات الکبدية (الألانين ترانسأمسنيز و الأسبارتيت ترانسأمينيز) بعد استئصال الفيروس.

الکلمات الدالة: ديناميکا الدم في الوريد البابي، القضاء علي التهاب الکبد الوبائي، تصلب الکبد، العوامل المباشرة المضادة للفيروسات، عوامل قياس دوبلر الوريد البابي.

  1. EFFECT OF HCV DIRECT ANTIVIRAL AGENTS ON PORTAL CIRCULATION HEMODYNAMICS IN CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS

    By

    Mostafa Abd El-Hamid Selima, Nader Farid Mostafa, Galal Abd El-Hameed Abou-Farrag, and Mohamed Abbas Deif*

    Infectious diseases, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, AlAzhar Faculty of Medicine, AlAzhar University, Cairo, Egypt

    *Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Department, National Liver Institute (NLI), Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Menoufia, Egypt

    Corresponding author: Mostafa Abd El-Hamid Selima

    Mobil: 01008469283, E-mail: mostselima@gmail.com

    ABSTRACT

    Background: Eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection using direct-acting antiviral Agents (DAAs) nowadays is almost always hopeful. Sustained virological response (SVR) has been documented in more than 90% of cases. This prevents more fibrosis and precludes the progression of portal hypertension (PH).

    Objective: detect the effect of HCV Direct Antiviral Agents on portal circulation hemodynamics.

    Patients and methods: This prospective descriptive study that was conducted on 70 HCV infected patients with liver stiffness measurement (LVM) ≥ 14.0 Kpa and underwent treatment with DAAs therapeutic regimens. They were subjected to pre-treatment, end of treatment (EOT) and 1 year after EOT laboratory, transient elastography (TE) and Doppler assessment at Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious diseases Department, Al-Hussien University Hospital, Cairo and National Liver Institute, Menoufia, Egypt in the period from May 2018 to December 2019.

    Results: Liver function tests including serum bilirubin, albumin, international ratio (INR), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were improved with variable significant values at EOT and 1 year after treatment, while hemoglobin and platelet count decreased. LVM values decreased significantly at the end of treatment (P<0.001). Doppler parameters including portal vein diameter, portal vein velocity (PVV), congestion index of portal vein (CI) and liver vascular index (P value<0.001) were improved significantly 1year after EOT. Also, resistive index of hepatic artery (HARI) (P value = 0.001) significantly improved at the same point of time.

    Conclusion: Doppler portal hypertensive parameters, as a marker of portal hypertension, improved in parallel with the improvement in LVM, ALT and AST values after viral eradication.

    Key words: Portal Hemodynamics, HCV eradication, Liver Stiffness, Direct acting antiviral, Portal vein Doppler parameters.

     

     

    INTRODUCTION

         Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects about 80 million people worldwide (Gower et al., 2014). Ongoing hepatic inflammation may lead to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and ultimately portal hypertension which may be complicated by ascites, variceal bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy. Moreover, patients are at considerable risk for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (Tsochatzis et al., 2014).

         The interferon (IFN) based therapies were limited in patients with advanced liver disease due to adverse events in addition to its modest efficacy (Reiberger et al., 2011 and Hézode et al., 2014). In contrast, novel IFN free regimens are highly effective and generally well tolerated (Mandorfer et al., 2015). Touting rates of sustained virologic response (SVR), which dense the cure of chronic hepatitis C (CHC), exceeding 95% (Charlton et al., 2015 and Manns et al., 2016) and the focus of attention has now shifted to the regression of HCV-induced liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and portal hypertension after treatment (Pinzani et al., 2015).

         In addition, hemodynamic changes in advanced cirrhosis were found to associate with the development of hepatorenal syndrome (Møller and Henriksen,2010)  Thus, it is postulated that hemodynamic parameters may provide unique information on the prognosis of cirrhotic patients (Hsieh et al., 2018). Many studies showed significant correlation between severity of liver dysfunction or Child-Pugh score (Achim et al., 2016 and Ahmed & Medhat, 2019) and portal circulation hemodynamics, others showed correlation between liver function tests and portal circulation hemodynamics (Akhter et al., 2012, Mahmoud et al., 2014, Mahmoud et al., 2017 and Elsayed et al., 2019).

         Multiple parameters, which could be measured with Doppler ultrasound, are reported to be altered with the progression of hepatic fibrosis and are considered as markers of PH such as portal vein velocity (PVV), portal vein flow rate (PVF) and Congestion Index (CI) (Mahmoud et al., 2014).

         The aim of the study was to assess the effect of HCV eradication with DAAs on portal circulation Doppler parameters and degree of liver fibrosis one year after EOT.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS

         This Prospective descriptive study was carried out on 70 HCV infected patients , aged 55.71±8.97 years old, with definite liver fibrosis (F4: ≥12.5 Kpa)  achieved SVR12 on follow up with laboratory, transient elastography (TE) and ultrasonography examination before and after HCV treatment with DAAs containing Interferon (INF) free therapeutic regimens at Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious diseases Department, Al-Hussien University Hospital, Cairo and National Liver Institute, Menoufia, Egypt in the period from May 2018 to December 2019.

         Patients with HCV infection was detected depending on both HCV Ab and HCV RNA PCR ≥ 15 IU/L. The inclusion criteria included the range of patients’ age from 18 up to 65 years old and had chronic infection with HCV, with detectable HCV RNA. Those patients had Child-Pugh score A. For the baseline assessment, all patients were subjected to Complete history taking, and full Clinical Examination. Blood samples were collected from patients and submitted to complete blood count (CBC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum albumin (ALB), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, prothrombin time and INR, serum creatinine, pregnancy test (for females at fertility period), Alpha Feto Protein (AFP), Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) level and hemoglobin A1c, HBsAg (Hepatitis B surface antigen). Baseline measurement of liver stiffness is performed in addition to liver ultrasonogrophy including Doppler of portal vein and hepatic artery to assess portal vein (PV) diameter, cross-sectional area, mean PV velocity (PVV), PV flow volume (PVF), congestion index of portal vein (CI), hepatic artery pulsitility index (HAPI), hepatic artery resistive index (HARI) and liver vascular index (LVI). It was done with Color duplex ultrasound machine (logiQ E10) with curved probe with multi-frequency convex transducer. The examination was carried out on patients under fasting and in a supine position for 15 minutes. The Doppler sample was positioned in the middle of the lumen. The following variables were calculated: (1) Portal vein diameter (mm): The portal vein was measured at the hepatic hilum, proximal to the bifurcation. (2) Cross-sectional area of the portal vein (cm2): Cross sectional area = (π × diameter^2)/4. (3) PVV (cm/sec): Hemodynamic measurements were done during a brief apnea after a small breath. The insonation angle between the vessel and Doppler beam was <600 for accuracy (Achim et al., 2016). (4) PVF (mL/sec) = [(π × diameter^2)/4] x mean velocity x 60 (Kayacetin et al., 2004). (5) HAPI = (Peak systolic velocity – end diastolic velocity)/ (Mean velocity). (6) HARI = (Peak systolic velocity – end diastolic velocity)/ (Peak systolic velocity) (Ahmed and Medhat 2019). (7) CI (cm x sec) = (cross-sectional area of the portal vein)/ (mean portal vein velocity) (Elsayed et al., 2019). (8) LVI = (Portal vein velocity)/HAPI (Achim et al., 2016).

         FibroScan, using echosens FibroScan compact 530 Machine, was performed on the right lobe of the liver by same clinician. A total of 10 measurements, expressed in Kpa, were obtained at each assessment and the median was determined. LSM score range from 2.50 to 75 Kpa (Soresi et al., 2014). LSM values were used to estimate the METAVIR fibrosis stage as follows: F0-F1: 2.5 to 6.9 Kpa/ F2: 7.0 to 9.4 Kpa / F3: 9.5 to 12.4 Kpa/ F4: ≥12.5 Kpa. Cirrhosis was defined as an LS score of 12.5 Kpa or more (Castéra et al., 2005).

         The treatment protocols were applied for all patients according to National Egyptian protocol: Sofosbuvir/ Dacltasvir, Sofosbuvir/ Simprevir, Sofosbuvir/ Dacltasvir/ Ribavirin and Sofosbuvir/ Simprevir/ Ribavirin for 5 (7.1%), 8 (11.4%), 53 (75.8%), 9 (12.9%) and 4 (5.7%) patients respectively. 59 patients (84.3%) were treated for 12 weeks and 11 patients (15.7%) for 24 weeks.

         All patients were submitted to the following investigations immediately at the end point of treatment (EOT) with routine clinical examination, Laboratory investigation: CBC, ALT, AST, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, serum albumin, INR and Serum creatinine, serum real time HCV-RNA PCR. The latter was the only at week 12 after EOT for assessment of SVR12.

    All patients were submitted to the following investigations 1year after EOT with Routine clinical examination, laboratory investigation: CBC, ALT, AST, total bilirubin, serum albumin, INR and serum creatinine, serum real time HCV-RNA PCR, TE, Doppler assessment of values of portal vein and hepatic artery parameters. We carried out different correlations between the hemodynamic variables obtained from the Doppler examination, the liver stiffness and laboratory findings.

         The patients were excluded from participating in the study if they had HIV or hepatitis B co-infection, history of major organ transplantation, or recent drug or alcohol abuse, refractory ascites (as defined by requiring paracentesis more than twice within the prior month), prior placement of a portosystemic shunt, current or historical portal vein thrombosis, active variceal bleeding within the prior 6 months; expected survival of  less than 1 year, oesophygeal varices with risky sign, on non-selective β-blockers, history of clinically significant medical condition associated with other chronic liver disease, severe hepatic impairment, history of hepatorenal or hepatopulmonary syndrome, active spontaneous bacterial peritonitis or major laboratory disturbance like alpha-fetoprotein >100(unless the patient was negative for hepatic masses via imaging within the prior 3 months), haemoglobin <8 g/dL, with neutrophils <1000 cells/mm3, platelets ≤ 75 000/mm3, creatinine ≥1.5×ULN or total bilirubin >5 mg/dL.

    Ethical Aspects:

    I.  Approving protocol:  Current protocol will be approved by Committee of Tropical Medicine Department and Committee of Faculty of Medicine at Al-Azhar university, and then by the ethical committee at Al-Azhar university.

    II. Patient Consent: All patients that were included in current study signed approved consents.

    Statistical analysis:

         Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software, version 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Continuous variables are expressed as mean and standard deviation while qualitative variables were expressed as frequencies. Paired Student’s t test is used for comparisons between pre-and post-treatment for normally distributed data and Wilcoxon matched pairs signed-rank test when not normally distributed. Simple linear regression was carried out to investigate the relationship between the change in liver stiffness and the change in laboratory values from Pre-treatment to after treatment. Pearson correlation (r) test is used to measure the association between liver stiffness measurement and portal hemodynamics parameters. A 2-tailed 0.05 significance level has been used in all statistical tests.


     

     

     

     

     

    RESULTS

     

     

         The current study included 70 HCV cirrhotic patients, 56 of them were males (80%) and 14 were females (20%) aging 21-65 years old with a mean age of 55.71±8.97 years. Pre-treatment characteristics showed LSM of all patients were F4 included with Fibro Scan score mean 26.32±10.23 Kpa. Baseline fasting blood glucose (FBG) mean value was 103.61±15.37 mg/dl and alfa feto protein (AFP) mean value was 16.87±23.82 ng/ml. Ultrasound examination as pre-treatment  assessment showed the percent of patients having cirrhotic, coarse  and  non-cirrhotic liver were 74.3%, 22.8% and 2.9% respectively, spleen : 64.3% had splenomegaly while  35.7% of the patients had normal spleen.  None of the patients had ascites or hepatic focal lesions. Liver stiffness of all patients was F4 included with fibro scan score mean 26.32±10.23 kilo Pascal's (Kpa). Sixty one patients (87.1%) hadn’t received any previous treatment while only 9 patients (12.9%) experienced previous treatment. The treatment protocols applied were: Sofosbuvir+ Daclatasvir or Simprevir± Ribavirin. Fifty nine patients (84.3%) were treated for 12 weeks and 11 patients (15.7%) for 24 weeks (Table 1).


     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Table (1):   Baseline characteristics of the patients

    Characteristics

    Total patients (no= 70)

    Age (years)

    Mean±SD

    Median

    Range

     

    55.71±8.97

    58.50

    21-65

    Gender

    Males

    Females

     

    56 (80.0%)

    14 (20.0%)

    Treatment status

    Naïve

     

    61 (87.1%)

    Experienced

    INF/RBV

    9 (12.9%)

    5 (7.1%)

    SOF/RBV

    2 (2.9%)

    SOF/INF/RBV

    2 (2.9%)

    Treatment protocol

    SOF/DAC

    SOF/SIM

    SOF/DAC/RBV

    SOF/DCV/RBV

    SOF/SIM/RBV

     

    5 (7.1%)

    8 (11.4%)

    44 (62.9%)

    9 (12.9%)

    4 (5.7%)

    Duration of treatment

    12 weeks

    24 weeks

     

    59 (84.3%)

    11 (15.7%)

    Liver

    Non cirrhotic

    Cirrhotic

    Coarse

     

    2 (2.9%)

    52 (74.3%)

    16 (22.8%)

    Spleen

    Normal

    Splenomegaly

     

    25 (35.7%)

    45 (64.3%)

    Ascitis

    No

     

    70 (100%)

    HCC

    No

     

    70 (100%)

    Laboratory tests

     

    FBS

    Mean±SD

    Median

    Range

     

    103.61±15.37

    105.00

    65.0-125.0

    AFP

    Mean±SD

     

    16.87±23.82

    FibroScan score

    Mean±SD

    Median

    Range

     

    26.32±10.23

    25.00

    14.0-48.0

    FibroScan stage

    F4

     

    70 (100%)

     

     

     

     

         Immediately after EOT, both Total and Direct Bilirubin significantly increased. AST and ALT significantly improved. Both Hemoglobin and Platelets showed significant decreased (P-value <0.001 for all parameters). Serum Albumin, WBCs, INR and Serum Creatinine showed non-significant change (Table 2).

     

     

    Table (2):   Clinical laboratory values pre-treatment and immediately at the end of treatment

    Variables

    Parameters

    Pre-treatment

    immediately at the end of treatment

    Change

    P -value

    Total bilirubin(mg/dl)

    1.02±0.43

    1.49±0.68

    -3.92

    <0.001

    Direct bilirubin

    (mg/dl)

    0.40±0.23

    0.77±0.56

    0.37

    <0.001

    Albumin (g/dl)

    4.75±0.93

    3.48±0.55

    -1.26

    0.07

    Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) (U/L)

    76.38±51.14

    46.67±27.18

    -29.71

    <0.001

    Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) (U/L)

    77.27±56.81

    47.52±24.93

    -29.75

    <0.001

    INR

    1.21±0.15

    1.2±0.17

    0.002

    0.85

    Creatinine (mg/dl)

    0.87±0.17

    0.88±0.29

    -1.51

    0.82

    Hemoglobin (g/dl)

    12.92±2.19

    11.41±1.76

    0.36

    <0.001

    WBCs (×1000)

    6.05±2.05

    6.41±2.25

    0.009

    0.13

    Platelets (×1000)

    136.6±52.65

    129.25±51.05

    -7.34

    <0.001

    *Wilcoxon signed ranks test

     

     

         One year after EOT, both total and direct bilirubin significantly increased (P-value 0.01, 0.001 respectively). AST, ALT and LSM significantly improved. Both Hemoglobin and Platelets showed significant decreased (P-value <0.001 for all parameters). Serum albumin, WBCs, INR and serum creatinine showed an insignificant change (Table 3).

     

     

    Table (3):   Clinical laboratory values pre-treatment and one year after the end of treatment

    Variables

    Parameters

    Pre-treatment

    one year after the end of treatment

    Change

    P -value

    Total bilirubin

    (mg/dl)

    1.02±0.43

    1.47±1.38

    0.45±1.46

    0.01

    Direct bilirubinn(mg/dl)

    0.40±0.23

    0.73±0.79

    0.33±0.79

    0.001

    Albumin (g/dl)

    4.75±5.93

    3.54±0.59

    -1.21±5.92

    0.09

    AST(U/L)

    76.38±51.14

    37.17±21.54

    -39.21±37.02

    <0.001

    ALT(U/L)

    77.27±56.81

    30.30±19.41

    -46.97±45.81

    <0.001

    INR

    1.21±0.15

    1.20±0.14

    -0.006±0.16

    0.74

    Creatinine (mg/dl)

    0.87±0.17

    0.77±0.26

    -0.10±0.29

    0.006

    Hemoglobin(g/dl)

    12.92±2.19

    11.54±1.66

    -1.37±1.24

    <0.001

    WBCs (×1000)

    6.05±2.05

    6.62±1.83

    0.57±2.6

    0.07

    Platelets (×1000)

    136.6±52.65

    125.44±49.48

    -11.16±14.23

    <0.001

    Liver stiffness measurement(Kpa)

    26.32±10.23

    19.89±8.25

    -6.44±6.11

    <0.001

    *Wilcoxon signed ranks test

     

         All patients were Fibroscan stage F4 (100%) at the pre-treatment examination and on examination 1 year after EOT LSM significantly improved to F2 (2.9%), F3 (17.1%), F4 (80.0%) (P-value 0.01) (Table 4).

     

     

    Table (4):   Change in Liver Stiffness from Pre-treatment to after treatment

    Variables

    Parameters

    Pre-treatment

    After-treatment

    P value

    F2

    No (%)

    0 (0%)

    2 (2.9%)

     

    ----------

    Mean ±SD

    ---------

    8.80±0.01

    F3

    No (%)

    0 (0%)

    12 (17.1%)

     

    _____

    Mean ±SD

    ---------

    11.33±0.94

    F4

    No (%)

    70 (100.0%)

    56 (80.0%)

     

    0.01

    Mean ±SD

    26.32±10.23

    19.89±8.25

     

     

         One year after EOT doppler parameters included PV diameter, PVV, CI, LVI and HARI significantly improved (P-value <0.001 for all parameters except HARI 0.001). Both PVF and HAPI showed insignificant change (Table 5).

     

     

    Table (5):   Comparison of Pre-treatment and one year after the end of treatment regarding portal vein hemodynamics

    Variables

    Parameters

    Pre-treatment

    one year after the end of treatment

    Change

    P -value

    PV diameter(mm)

    12.76±0.97

    11.84±1.06

    - 0.92

    <0.001

    PV velocity (cm / sec)

    15.43±1.24

    16.12±1.64

    0.69

    <0.001

    PV flow rate (mL / sec)

    1285.53±41.93

    1289.34±41.47

    3.81

    0.47

    Congestion index of portal vein (cm x sec) (CI)

    0.09±0.01

    0.08±0.01

    - 0.007

    <0.001

    Pulsatility index of Hepatic artery (HAPI)

    1.10±0.08

    1.09±0.22

    - 0.008

    0.73

    Resistive index of Hepatic artery (HARI)

    0.66±0.05

    0.63±0.07

    - 0.03

    0.001

    Liver vascular index (LVI)

    14.07±1.42

    15.21±2.98

    1.13

    <0.001

     

     

    DISCUSSION

         Our study included 70 cirrhotic patients. After 3 months and 1year of EOT, sustained viral response was achieved. Concerning total and direct bilirubin, both significantly increased at EOT and 1 year after EOT which is in contradiction to Mahmoud et al. (2017) and Elsayed et al. (2019).

         For serum albumin, at EOT decreased insignificantly, while one year after EOT it increased insignificantly which was in agreement with Chekuri et al. (2016), Mahmoud et al. (2017) and Elsayed et al. (2019) who reported a significant increase of serum albumin after treatment (p<0.03).

         As regard to AST and ALT, both significantly decreased at EOT and one year after EOT. This was in agreement with Chekuri et al. (2016), Mahmoud et al. (2017), Puente et al. (2017), Elsayed et al. (2019), Mansour et al. (2019) and Ezzelregal et al. (2020) who reported a significant decrease of AST and ALT levels after treatment.

         Concerning creatinine level, an insignificant change was reported at EOT and 1 year after EOT unlike Elsayed et al. (2019). For international ratio (INR), an insignificant change was reported at EOT and 1 year after EOT. Mahmoud et al. (2017) and Elsayed et al. (2019) reported a decrease in prothrombin time.

         For hemoglobin (Hb) level, it significantly decreased at EOT and 1 year after EOT. This was in agreement with Mahmoud et al. (2017), Puente et al. (2017), Elsayed et al. (2019), Mansour et al. (2019) and Ezzelregal et al. (2020), while Chekuri et al. (2016) stated that the difference was not significant.

         As regard to white blood count (WBCs), it insignificantly changed at EOT and 1 year after EOT. This was in agreement with Elsayed et al. (2019), but in contradiction to Mansour et al. (2019) who reported a decrease in WBCs count after treatment. This could be due to use of ribavirin. For platelets count, it significantly decreased at EOT and 1 year after EOT, which was in agreement with Puente et al. (2017) but in contradiction to Chekuri et al. (2016), Mahmoud et al. (2017), Elsayed et al. (2019), Mansour et al. (2019) and Ezzelregal et al. (2020) due to including of ribavirin in therapeutic regimens of most patients.

         The significant decrease of LS measurement was in agreement with Chekuri et al. (2016), Dolmazashvili et al. (2017), Grgurevic et al. (2017), Mahmoud et al. (2017), Puente et al. (2017), Mansour et al. (2019) and Ezzelregal et al. (2020).

         Congestion index was in agreement with Achim et al. (2016). For hepatic artery Doppler assessment: HAPI was in agreement with Achim et al. (2016). Ahmed and Medhat (2019) reported that the mean of HARI was relatively equal in Child A and Child B. Concerning liver vascular index (LVI), it was in agreement with Achim et al. (2016).

         For the comparison between pre-treatment and 1year after EOT Doppler assessment, pre-treatment portal vein (PV) diameter significantly decreased, velocity (PVV) was significantly improved which was in agreement with Mahmoud et al. (2017) who reported that the PVV significantly improved at EOT in addition to a significant improvement on week 24. In addition, Elsayed et al. (2019) stated that PVV improved.

         In a study by Akhter et al. (2012), the mean PVV after 2 weeks of therapy significantly increased as compare to pre-IFN. However, after 24 weeks of therapy, there was no significant difference in the portal blood flow velocity.

         As regard to the portal vein flow rate, it improved in agreement with Mahmoud et al. (2017) who reported that the flow rate was significantly increased at EOT and on week 24. Also, Elsayed et al. (2019) stated that flow rate significantly improved.

         For congestion index, it significantly changed in agreement with Mahmoud et al. (2017) who reported a significant increase in CI at EOT and on week 24. Furthermore, Elsayed et al. (2019) stated that CI, as well, showed significant improvement.

         Concerning the hepatic artery, it showed that HAPI decreased while resistive index (RI) significantly decreased which was in agreement with Elsayed et al. (2019) who stated that HARI significantly improved.

         For liver vascular index, it significantly changed. Mahmoud et al. (2014) found that LVI showed statistically significantly lower values in patients with OVs than those without OVs.

    CONCLUSION

         Eradication of HCV infection with new DAAs was associated with significant improvement in portal circulation hemodynamics such as PVV, CI, HARI and LVI in correlation with significant decrease in LVM, ALT and AST.

    Conflict of interest: All Authors declared that no conflict of interest and no financial support from any agency.

    Acknowledgement: The authors are grateful for the patients without whom this study would not have been done.

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    تأثيرعلاج فيروس سي بالمضادات الفيروسية المباشرة علي الدورة البابية في مرضي التليف الکبدي

    مصطفي عبدالحميد سليمة، نادر فريد مصطفي، جلال عبدالحميد أبوفراج، محمد عباس ضيف

    قسم أمراض الکبد والجهاز الهضمى والأمراض المعدية، کلية الطب، جامعة الأزهر

    قسم الأشعة التداخلية معهد الکبد القومي شبين الکوم المنوفية

    E-mail: mostselima@gmail.com

    خلفية البحث: صار القضاء على عدوى فيروس التهاب الکبد الوبائي (سي) بعد ظهور العوامل المباشرة المضادة للفيروسات في الوقت الحاضر أمر مبشرا. تم توثيق الاستجابة الفيروسية المستمرة  في أکثر من 90٪ من الحالات. وهذا يمنع المزيد من التليف ويمنع تطور ارتفاع ضغط الدم البابي.

    الهدف من البحث: الکشف عن تأثير العوامل المباشرة المضادة للفيروسات (المستخدمة في علاج فيروس التهاب الکبد الوبائي (سي)) على ديناميکا الدورة الدموية في الوريد البابي.

    المرضي وطرق البحث: دراسة وصفية استباقية أجريت على 70 مريض مصاب بفيروس التهاب الکبد (سي) دوو قياس تصلب الکبد ≥ 14.0 کيلو باسکال الذين خضعوا للعلاج معتمدين علي العوامل المباشرة المضادة للفيروسات. تم إخضاعهم للدراسة والتحليل السابقة لتعاطي العلاج، وبعد نهايته وبعد عام أيضا، وتقييم المرونة العابرة وتقييم دوبلر.وقد تمت الدراسة بقسم الجهاز الهضمي والکبد والأمراض المعدية کلية طب بنين جامعة الأزهربالقاهرة ومعهد الکبد بشبين الکوم جامعة المنوفية خلال الفترة من مايو2018 إلي ديسمبر 2019.

    نتائج البحث: أظهرت نتائج الدراسة  أثناء فحص مابعد نهاية العلاج زيادة کل من مستوي الصفراء الکلي والمباشر بقيمة ذات دلالة إحصائية. بينما تحسنت الانزيمات الکبدية (الألانين ترانسأمسنيز و الأسبارتيت ترانسأمينيز) بقيمة ذات دلالة إحصائية. لکن أظهر کل من الهيموجلوبين والصفائح الدموية انخفاضًا ذا دلالة إحصائية (قيمة الاحتمالية <0.001 لجميع الدلالات). أظهرت نسبة الألبومين بالدم وکريات الدم البيضاء والمعدل الدولي للسيولة والکرياتينين بالدم تغيرًا طفيفًا.

             و بعد عام من نهاية العلاج زاد مستوي الصفراء الکلي والمباشر بشکل ذا دلالة إحصائية (قيمة الاحتمالية ساوت 0.01، 0.001 على التوالي). تحسنت الانزيمات الکبدية (الألانين ترانسأمسنيز و الأسبارتيت ترانسأمينيز) و قيمة تصلب الکبد بشکل ذا دلالة إحصائية. وأظهر کل من الهيموجلوبين والصفائح الدموية انخفاضًا ذا دلالة إحصائية (قيمة الاحتمالية <0.001 لجميع الدلالات). أظهرت نسبة الألبومين بالدم وکريات الدم البيضاء والمعدل الدولي للسيولة والکرياتينين بالدم تغيرًا طفيفًا.

    الإستنتاج: تم تحسين معاملات ارتفاع ضغط الدم في بوابة دوبلر، کعلامة لارتفاع ضغط الدم البابي، بالتوازي مع التحسن في قيم تصلب الکبد و الانزيمات الکبدية (الألانين ترانسأمسنيز و الأسبارتيت ترانسأمينيز) بعد استئصال الفيروس.

    الکلمات الدالة: ديناميکا الدم في الوريد البابي، القضاء علي التهاب الکبد الوبائي، تصلب الکبد، العوامل المباشرة المضادة للفيروسات، عوامل قياس دوبلر الوريد البابي.